From the most congested and within the secured walls, the prisoners whom most are serving life sentences for crimes ranging from murder, hit to fame with their album ‘I have no everything here’ which earned them a nomination to the 58th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, USA.

They lost to Angelique Kidjo at the gala ceremony in Los Angeles Tuesday morning.

Kidjo, Beninese-born singer based in United States, won for a collection of her songs infused with Western classical traditions.

This is the second straight year that Kidjo has won the Best World Music Album prize, after last year.

But despite not winning, a Malawian line-up of convicted criminals have been noticed by the world music stage.

The 20-track album, I Have No Everything Here”, was arranged by the US producer Ian Brennan and recorded during recording sessions in a makeshift studio at the Zomba maximum-security prison.

Some of the members of the band include convicted murderer Elias Chimenya on bass guitar, burglar Stefano Nyirenda, and prison guard Thomas Binamo.

They are part of the 60 prisoners, who make up Malawi’s Zomba Prison Project band.

However, many have hinted that being the first Malawian band to be nominated for the Grammys and competing against legends like Brazilian icon Gilberto Gil, Angélique Kidjo, South African Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Indian Anoushka Shankar it calls for pride.